“We lived in a nightmare that no one had any idea was occurring. I was never allowed to go anywhere until I was healed. It was a cruelty all its own. Robbed of sunshine, fresh air, and limited freedom was another way Chet controlled my life. He never gave me more than a few weeks to recover between attacks. Sex was a degrading event to enforce my submission and prove his dominance. I didn’t understand it was rape. Not for a lot of years.” My voice broke. “When he attacked me two weeks after Noah’s birth, I passed out and woke up covered in blood. That’s when I knew I had to leave him.”
“Fuck.” Jayce lowered his forehead to mine. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I’m so sorry.”
“You didn’t do this. Chet did. It took me years to form a plan, but I finally got away. I’m just not sure I’ll ever feel completely free.”
“You will. We can escape our past, Bess. Both of us. All we have to do is let go and become lost in one another.” I kissed her and held her close, wishing I could erase all the bad shit that happened to her.
“I know. That’s why I’m so happy I have you, Jayce. You’re my sexy silver biker and hero all in one.”
Damn she was as sweet as holiday candy and as yummy as a warm sugar cookie straight from the oven. I had a thing for sweets and cookies. Desired and liked her even more.
“Damn straight, baby. You’ve helped me too. I can finally breathe a little since Colter died. He was only seventeen when the car he was in crashed. Lost him and his girlfriend. Gutted me completely. Had bad blood between me and my brother Petros that had a lot to do with Colter’s mom. I’ve made some mistakes in my past and I can’t ever repair that relationship completely. We tolerate one another but that’s it. Have to ya know. We’re both Royal Bastards.” I sighed. “I’ve been drowning every day since my son died. Until you.”
“Oh, Jayce. I’m so sorry. Losing a child, I can’t imagine. And a brother too.”
“Noah reminds me so much of him. It’s fuckin’ hard, Bess.”
“I know it is,” she whispered, lifting her head to gaze into my eyes. “I’m here for you, just like you’ve been for me.”
“Yeah, you are.”
Our mouths fused together, and the kiss sparked a flame that neither of us could put out. She cried out my name several more times before I finally had to leave her side.
With a kiss and a promise to return later that afternoon, I left my Bess in bed and fully satisfied.
“What’s up with you?” Rael asked, ticking his head in my direction.
“What the fuck you mean?” I asked with attitude.
Mammoth chuckled. “Something different about you, Papa. We can all see it.”
Couldn’t stop the grin that followed. Like the cat that caught the damn canary.
“Fuck. You got laid again. Damn. At least I know I’ll have game when I get as old as you.”
I flipped off Rael and then shrugged. “I’m happy. So? Get over it.”
Hannibal had his arms folded over his chest. Stick of raw sugar cane was sticking out of his mouth. “Good for you. She got a friend?”
The room went dead silent for about three seconds before it erupted in loud guffaws.
“This is why I don’t come around often. You shits like to bust my balls too much.”
Hannibal’s lips twitched and he nearly lost the sugar cane. “You fuckin’ love me. Don’t even play around like I’m not your favorite.” He had his metal lighter in his hand and kept flipping it open and shut. Always restless, he never could keep his hands still for long.
Snorting, I shook my head. “Mammoth is the only one who’s not a total dick.”
“I take offense to that,” Grim announced as he walked in and took his place at the head of the table.
“You weren’t here either,” I pointed out.
Grim picked up his gavel and banged it down. “Church is in session, you ugly motherfuckers. We got a big vote today and club business first. Then Papa is gonna tell us all how he’s fallen in love like a little schoolgirl with her first infatuation.”
Laughter followed and the room didn’t quiet down for several minutes.
“Fuck all of you. On second thought, I’ll just go home and fuck my Bess all night.”
For some reason, the room went quiet fast.